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I just have a quick question, and thought this might be the place to ask it.
I hope I do not offend anyone by my obvious ignorance of the Japanese language and culture, but everyone has to start somewhere!
Anyway I was looking for a translation of the words
'Kancho' and the ending title '-san'. I have seen 'Kancho' used in articles when talking about sensei's, is this just a coincidence or is there a reason for this? And I have only heard of '-san' in a joking or humurous manner.
Thanks so much!
Eddie

'Kancho' is the title used by the head instructor of the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo. (Others might use it too, but I'm not sure.) I believe it means 'Director'. As far as putting 'san' at the end I haven't heard this done before in my own experience. Currently Inoue Kancho is head instructor at Yoshinkan Honbu, previously to him it was Shioda Kancho who started the Yoshinkan.

Kancho (more accurately kanchou) is literally the head or chief ("chou") of the building ("kan"). It is very similar to "dojocho" (doujouchou) in meaning. It only makes sense to use a title like this in organizations whose name has "kan" at the end, such as Yoshinkan, Seidokan, etc. The "feeling" of such names (and the reality in many cases) is that the organization was just a single dojo (building) at one time, although it may have expanded.

As for whether to append "-san" (the usual polite title of address for general use), my feeling is that it sounds reasonable enough, but only for someone outside the organization speaking politely to, or of, the org head. When used as a title attached to the person's name ("Inoue Kanchou") or by someone within the org to address the head, just "kanchou" is the most correct.

Kancho (more accurately kanchou) is literally the head or chief ("chou") of the building ("kan"). It is very similar to "dojocho" (doujouchou) in meaning. It only makes sense to use a title like this in organizations whose name has "kan" at the end, such as Yoshinkan, Seidokan, etc. The "feeling" of such names (and the reality in many cases) is that the organization was just a single dojo (building) at one time, although it may have expanded.

As for whether to append "-san" (the usual polite title of address for general use), my feeling is that it sounds reasonable enough, but only for someone outside the organization speaking politely to, or of, the org head. When used as a title attached to the person's name ("Inoue Kanchou") or by someone within the org to address the head, just "kanchou" is the most correct.

HTH

Dave

I completely agree with Dave on this... In offices, one often refers to the Section Head as "Kachou" and the Department Head as "Buchou".

But in places of learning (and in dojos), people often add the suffix "Sensei" (and not "san"), especially if you are a student of that place. So, people refer to "Kouchou" (Head of School) as "Kochou Sensei", "Kanchou" as "Kanchou Sensei" and "Doushu" as "Doushu Sensei"

Dojo Cho (head of a dojo)Kancho (head of an organization)Soke (founder of a style/organization)San is an honorific, as mentioned above....similar to Mr. Ms. Mrs. Implying a certain level of repsect for that person. Sama is used similarly but implies a higher level of respect for the person being addressed.Chan used as a more affectionate term, for maybe a child or significant other

There is also a term for a regional director. Its a pretty modern term but right now I can't remember it. It may be something like SibuCho but I'm not sure.

Oh, and Doshu is the title for the descendant of Ueshiba Moreihei O'Sensei who is currently head of his Honbu Dojo.